Cafe Racer Thread

[Hard-Deck]

Jim, that's a street-fighter, not a cafe.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

Jim, that's a street-fighter, not a cafe.

Indeed. And not far from stock, either.

A little light reading: Cafe Racers? - The Jockey Journal Board

[Jim Bremner]

yea, but I find it the sexy. And I would feel less of a poser if I was riding it instead of a thruxton.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by ERH

Classic Cafe bike. Love it!

Used to have one that looked exactly like this, but with a BMW.

[ERH]

Axel is making some nice bikes.

kaffeemaschine - gallery

[porsche930dude]

local guy CL ad looking for this bike he built in 76 Sportster engine in a Norton frame.

[HardDrive]

Yeah, thats not a cafe racer. And who gives a rip? Damn nice machine. Clean, tight, all business. I think Buells will appreciate nicely.

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

yea, but I find it the sexy. And I would feel less of a poser if I was riding it instead of a thruxton.

There have been some decent attempts at Buell cafes:

Tubers:







XB9 out of Japan

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Yeah, thats not a cafe racer. And who gives a rip? Damn nice machine. Clean, tight, all business. I think Buells will appreciate nicely.

Nobody said Buells weren't kickass bikes. They are. I very nearly bought two...but sadly finances got in the way.

I don't know about appreciation, though. With The Factory committed to only another 8 (7?) years of support, I suspect the parts situation will weigh heavily on resale.

[asphaltgambler]

I'm pretty sure that is an aftermarket 'feather bed' road race frame made to fit a Norton. - they are/were hand made to order in England. In their day extremely light and strong. Really old world craftsmanship all jigged and tigged by hand.

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

local guy CL ad looking for this bike he built in 76 Sportster engine in a Norton frame.

[Chocaholic]

Somthing about a Guzzi Cafe. Nothing else quite measures up...

[Duane V]

Here's mine. Started out as an ugly 81 cb650 custom. It's better now

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

I'm pretty sure that is an aftermarket 'feather bed' road race frame made to fit a Norton. - they are/were hand made to order in England. In their day extremely light and strong. Really old world craftsmanship all jigged and tigged by hand.

I think you're right. Rickman, maybe?

Motor is much older than a '76. It has an early tin primary cover, and there is no hump for a starter solenoid and the Bendix drive. I believe the kick start only XLCH's retained the hump, since it was a part of the left engine case. I can't remember for sure.

My first street bike ever was a '76 XLCH, purchased in '77. My third was another '76, but an XLH, purchased in 1980. I still have that one. It's currently in pieces all over the garage (and the Northwest - heads are at Baisely's in Portland, cases at Cyclepath in Kirkland, etc.), but here is was last summer:



I may wind up going for more of a cafe' look when it goes back together later this winter.

[Dueller]

Lots of cafe sporster pics here, Jeff....36 pages to be exact!

Official Sportster Cafe Racer Picture Thread - Harley Davidson Forums

A few:

[Dueller]

And now for something completely different

[enzo1]

[jhelgesen]

Work in progress

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I may wind up going for more of a cafe' look when it goes back together later this winter.

Damn nice Sporty based cafe by Deus Ex Machina

[Dueller]

Some more...

[Jeff Higgins]

Yeah, I love those guys, Jim. They have some really bad-ass Ducati cafe's as well.

I wish they supplied tanks and seats for the older Sporties like mine. That would certainly seal the deal on which way I would go when I start putting it back together.